Vehicle for football game

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a game apparatus which is in the nature of a vehicle or an attachment for a vehicle, the vehicle being operated by a driver, who travels with the vehicle. The idea is that the apparatus is equipped to receive from a play surface, hold and propel over the play surface a play member, in particular a ball. The apparatus can be described as a motorized version of football. The apparatus has an inlet by which the ball is received, and either the ball is propelled back out of the inlet or out of either of one or more separate outlets in the apparatus. When the ball enters the inlet it is held by a holding plate which rests, by gravity, on the top of the ball.

This invention relates to game apparatus, which is of a type which inuse is propelled over a surface and has a means whereby a play member,such as a ball, which moves over the surface, can be caught by theapparatus, held thereby, and eventually propelled from the apparatusover the surface towards an objective, such as a goal, or other similarapparatus.

The apparatus may be in the form of a vehicle which is manuallypropelled, e.g. a bicycle type machine, or vehicle with its own primemover, e.g. an engine or motor, or it may be in the form of anattachment which is for connection to such a vehicle, the vehicle beingof a size to accommodate a human driver, and the apparatus defining afront, sides and a rear.

Basically, therefore the apparatus is in effect a means whereby a gamesimilar to or based upon soccer can be played, using motorised machines.

There has already been disclosed in International Patent Application No.WO/97/17110, an apparatus of the type described above, and in suchapparatus there is a ball receiving funnel at the front of theapparatus, into which the ball rolls when it is caught by the apparatus,and the ball is adapted to be propelled from the apparatus to eitherside of same.

Other known forms of apparatus of the type to which the inventionretates comprise a ball catching means at the front, and the catchingmeans is adapted to propel the ball from the front in the oppositedirection from which it was caught.

A problem with the known arrangements, it has been found, is that shouldthe apparatus, after it has caught the ball, stop suddenly or changedirection, the ball can undesirably roll from the apparatus and becomefree on the surface, and this interrupts the flow and enjoyment of thegame.

Another form of the same problem is that if the ball is travellingtowards the machine and the machine towards the ball, then the force ofthe impact between ball and machine can cause the ball to bounce awayfrom the machine, which impairs quality of play.

The present invention addresses this problem, and in accordance with theinvention there is provided in an apparatus of the type to which theinvention relates, a ball holding plate means which rest on the top halfof the ball when it has been caught by the apparatus, to preventunwanted discharge of the ball from the apparatus.

The ball holding plate means may be in the form of a plate of metal,plastics or the like, but this is not essential, and the plate meanscould take other forms, for example, it could be a bar or bars, or aframework with a tightly strung net across it, similar to a tennisracket, or it could be a framework with stitched in canvas panels, orglued in plastic net or sheet. Indeed, it may take any of a number offorms.

The plate means may rest on the ball by virtue of its own weight, whichwill be calculated to be sufficient to perform the function of holdingthe ball in normal playing conditions, but not too great to create somuch friction to prevent the ball from rolling as the vehicle is movingduring play.

The plate means may be carried by flexible members such as ropes (whichmay be elastic) or chains, or by a guide which is slidably held in aframe part of the apparatus, so as to be free to move up and down, thearrangement being that when the ball is caught by the apparatus andmoves to a position under the plate means (which it will be compelled todo), the plate means rises from an initial rest position, and then reston top of the ball, and when the ball is propelled from the apparatus,the plate means drops back to the initial position. A suitable stoplimits the extent to which the plate means drops, and defines theinitial position.

The apparatus may otherwise be in each and every respect and variationsimilar to the apparatus set forth in said International Application, orit may be of the type wherein the ball is caught at the front, in amouth for example, and propelled from the front, or indeed in any otherdirection.

The plate means may be provided with anti-friction means, such asanti-friction rolling elements which engage the ball and limit thefriction between the ball and the plate means as the ball is carriedwith the apparatus during movement thereof.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example,with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle forming apparatus according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the ball holding means of the vehicleof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of apparatus according to another embodiment ofthe invention in the form of an attachment for a vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a vehicle forming apparatus according toanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the vehicle shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view showing the ball holding means of thevehicle of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the holding means shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing another form of supporting the ballholding plate;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are respectively a side view, plan and end view of aball ejection mechanism usable with a vehicle having a front end receiptand ejection arrangement;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, showing a modification;

FIGS. 15 and 16 ate plan view respectively showing other embodiments ofholding means; and

FIG. 17 shows in plan a vehicle according to another embodiment of theinvention.

The object of this invention is to enable apparatus which is designed tocatch, hold and eject a ball, such as a football, to be improved with aball stabilising device. An existing apparatus is set forth inInternational Patent Application PCT/GB96/02634 dated Oct. 30, 1996. Theapparatus disclosed therein is modified according to this invention byhaving a ball holding means such as a plate, either as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, wherein the apparatus is a vehicle, or as illustrated in FIGS. 3,4 and 5, when the apparatus is an attachment for a vehicle. When theapparatus is an attachment it may be propelled by any existing vehicle,but preferably the vehicle is manually operated machine such as abicycle or a small tractor or a machine referred to as an all-terrainvehicle e.g. a quad bike.

Alternatively, the ball holding means could be built into a specialpurpose-built ball playing machine as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The ball catching vehicle as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 receives theball 1 at the front corner at either side of the front wheel asillustrated by arrows A and B and holds the ball at position C and willeject the ball at the side from positions either D or E.

In the case of the vehicle in FIG. 6 the ball 1 is received and held inthe retaining area 2 by the ball holding plate 3. FIGS. 15 and 16 showtwo alternative ball holding means 50 and 60 respectively in the form ofa frame 52 strung with netting 54 or a frame 62 covered by a canvas orthe like sheet 64.

All ball playing vehicles or attachments have ball scoop plates whichare of a funnel shape to enable the player to drive the apparatus tocatch the ball and funnel the ball into the ball holding area. On alldrawings these funnel plates ate referred to as items X and Y.

The ball holding plate 3 is suspended in a free hanging fashion forexample by ropes or chains 3A shown in FIG. 10, above the ball at aheight so that when the ball enters the funnel area, the ball lifts theplate and the weight of the plate is carried by the ball. The plate isretained in any form of suspension or sliding mechanism so that itmaintains its position within the shape of the funnel and above the areawhere the ball is held. The plate 3 may lie at an angle as shown in FIG.10, with the front end higher than the teat end to facilitate catchingthe ball 1.

In the case of FIGS. 1 and 2 the ball will pass from the holding plate 3into a separate ball ejection mechanism where the ball is contained at Cby other means before being ejected in directions D or E.

In FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the ball is held underneath the plate but as theattachment is steered then the ball is free to roll along the verticalfaces of the ball funnel between X and Y but should the driver slow themachine down the ball will not run away from the plate 21 as plate 3 isresting on the ball and holding it in that position.

With reference to FIG. 6 the ball holding plate has a cut out asindicated by item 4, so when the ball is in the holding position 2, theplate 3, being on loose suspension, will be hanging in the front of theball preventing any ball escape but still allowing the ball to rollfreely on the playing surface.

A further unique and independent feature with the apparatus in FIGS. 6and 7 is that the ball is held on the same axis as the two drivingwheels 5 and 6 with the machine being carried at the rear on a furthercastor wheel 7.

The driver seated in the seat 8 can operate two separate control levers9 and 10 to control each wheel 5 or 6, so that the wheels can travelboth in the same direction to take the ball forward, or alternativelyone wheel can be rotated in one direction and the other wheel in theopposite direction, in which case, the vehicle will turn about a centreon which the ball lies, and the ball will hardly move or remainstationary.

Each of the vehicles, as exemplified in FIGS. 6 and 7, can be powered bya petrol engine 11, powering an electric clutch 12, which in turn isconnected to a rubber compression bumper 13 extending throughout thelength of which is a compression but spring-loaded electrical switch sothat should the vehicle 14 come into contact with any other apparatus,or the barrier surrounding the play area, then the vehicle willautomatically stop for a pre-determined length of time to deter thedriver from being too aggressive. This ensures that the game is ofnon-physical contact and the drivers will lose playing time when themachines 14 are stationary because of the touch bumper time penalty.Likewise this penalty mechanism may be remotely controlled by anindependent referee.

As an alternative transmission method, the petrol engine 11 could bereplaced by electric batteries and the transmission 15 shown, could bereplaced by electric motors or any other conventional form oftransmission could be used.

Whereas in FIG. 1, the ball is received in positions A or B and ejectedfrom D or E, with an attachment as in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 the ball will bereceived at either side of the front castor wheel, in a positionindicated by letter F or G and ejected from positions H or J by turningthe attachment quickly through a tight turning angle in one or otherdirection. This will eject the bill from the opposite side as it clearsfrom underneath the ball holding plate 3.

In the configuration as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 the ball is caughtat the front by the funnel shape as indicated with X and Y. The ballplate 3 covers the majority of the ball catching and holding area buthas a cut out 4 in which the ball locates.

Behind the holding location 2 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is aspring-loaded ball ejector, The springs 17 of the ejector are tensionedusing an electric actuator or alternatively an hydraulic ram oralternatively a manual screw method so that a kicking arm W can bepropelled to the position as indicated by the dotted lines, to propelthe ball from the apparatus. By extending an actuator 16, the springs 17are compressed and the compression is held with a simple latch number 18and when the springs are compressed and latched in that position, theactuator returns to its closed position as illustrated at 20 in dottedlines.

When the player is ready to eject the ball or alternatively after a timelimit set by a microprocessor has elapsed, which ever comes sooner, anelectric solenoid or similar device 19 is actuated to release thetension in the springs 17, and the kicking arm is release and snaps tothe ejection position and the ball is ejected. Ball release by theplayer may be by pressing a button on a hand control, for example handcontrol item 9 or 10.

However split seconds before solenoid 19 is actuated, a further solenoid22, operates a lever mechanism which shortens the suspension means ofthe holding plate 3 which raises the plate above the height of thediameter of the ball by raising the plate 3 clear of the ball, allowingthe ball to be cleanly ejected via the loaded springs number 17.

The driver or microprocessor re-extends the actuator 16 to re-compressthe springs 17 and release the actuator solenoid 22, so that the ballholding plate 3 returns to its position nearer the playing surface at adistance away from the playing surface, less than the diameter of theplaying ball therefore the mechanism has reset awaiting the player onthe machine to re-catch the ball.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show an alternative ball ejection mechanism, whichis of novel, low cost construction in that performs several functionsand it does not require the provision of two solenoids as indicted inFIG. 8. In this arrangement, ball ejection is by linear displacement ofa spring loaded pusher plate.

Referring to FIG. 11, the ball holding plate 3 is attached to arms 70 ata fixed angle, and as the ball 1 enters the machine, it lifts the ballholding plate 3 and the arms 70, which subsequently drop and trap theball in the cut out 4 of the plate 3, shown more clearly in FIG. 12.This can be arranged to happen in all embodiments.

When the ball is to be ejected, for any of the reasons indicated herein,the spring loading on the pusher plate 72 is released by the release oftwo latches 74, 76, and the plate is free to shoot forward engaging theball and propelling it from the machine.

Spring loading of the pusher plate 72 is by means of a linear actuator,which may be electric, hydraulic or pneumatic, and immediately afterejection of the ball, the actuator extends to its full stroke taking thelatches 74, 76 with it until they re-engage the pusher plate and latchsame by locating in a male spigot 78.

The actuator then immediately retracts, taking with it the pusher plate72 and compressing the springs which act on the pusher plate 72, ineffect reloading the device. The retraction of the actuator is by 80% ofits possible retraction at this stage. The device is now loaded forfurther actuation when the ball is received.

Specifically, in the ball ejection, the actuator retracts by another 10%(approximately 10 mm in a specific example) of its stroke, and duringthis movement, the ball holding plate 3 is lifted by cam 80, byengagement with the lifting bar 82, which in turn lifts the arms 84,which carry the plate 3. The plate 3 is thereby lifted clear of theball.

With the final retraction of the actuator the springs are fully loadedand the latches 74, 76 are released as described by wedge 86 engagingthe latches. The pusher plate is therefore released to propel the ballas described.

The arrangement of FIG. 14 is similar to that of FIG. 13, except thatthe devices has two wedges which force the latches apart in parallelmanner. It is believed that this will provide a stronger and morereliable construction.

FIG. 17 shows yet another embodiment of the invention wherein there aretwo catching locations 150 and 152 at the front of the machine, eachwith its own ball holding means in the form of plates 154, 156, and eachlocation 150 and 152 is provided with its own propelling mechanism 158and 160, which is similar to the propelling mechanism described withreference to FIGS. 11 to 14. The propelling mechanism are shown angledto one another at an angle of approximately 45°, but they could beparallel or arranged at another angle.

One aspect of the invention is the provision of holding means fortemporarily holding the ball in the holding position, to prevent it fromundesirably running out of the inlet for any reason such as the vehiclebeing driven in reverse, the vehicle braking, or the ball tending tobounce off the member (such as plate 21 of FIG. 5) which stops it whenit enters the apparatus.

Another invention is the means for holding the ball in a best locationin relation to the steering characteristics of the vehicle to minimiseball scrub when the vehicle is being turned about a centre within itsown dimensions.

Another aspect of the present invention is that the actuationarrangement of FIGS. 11 to 14, a single movement of the actuator in onedirection fully charges the springs, lifts the ball holding means andoperates the release mechanism

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus which in use is propelled over asurface and has a means (3) whereby a play member comprising a ball (1),which moves over the surface, can be caught by the apparatus, heldthereby, and eventually propelled from the apparatus over the surfacetowards an objective, said apparatus including a ball holding platemeans (3) which rests on the top of the ball (1) when it has been caughtby the apparatus, to prevent unwanted discharge of the ball (1) from theapparatus.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate means(3) rests on the ball (1) by virtue of its own weight.
 3. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plate means (3) is carried by aguide which is slidably held in a frame part of the apparatus, so as tobe free to move up and down in the frame.
 4. An apparatus according toclaim 3, wherein a suitable stop limits the extent to which the platemeans (3) drops, and defines the initial position.
 5. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is such that the ball iscaught at the front and propelled from the front.
 6. An apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein the plate means (3) is provided withanti-friction means, which engage the ball (1) and limit the frictionbetween the ball (1) and the plate means (3) as the ball (1) is carriedwith the apparatus during movement thereof.
 7. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the plate means (3) has an aperture therein in whichthe ball (1) engages to locate same in the apparatus.
 8. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein there is a propelling means (17, 19, 20)for propelling the ball (1) from the location in which it is held by theplate means (3), and there is further a raising means (22) for raisingthe plate (3) immediately before the operation of the propelling means.9. An apparatus according to 1, wherein the apparatus is power drivenand includes a touch sensitive device whereby when the apparatus by thisdevice touches another object with sufficient force, the apparatus isautomatically stopped, or a warning signal is given.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the objective comprises a goal.